Sunday's Fantasy Basketball Streamers: Ajay Mitchell, Jabari Smith Jr., and More
Streaming players from three NBA teams with good matchups on Sunday.
Sundays on the NBA schedule get overshadowed during the NFL season. Football rules everything, so it's not a surprise; everyone else has to wait their turn. Once the All-Star break hits, though, then basketball has a chance to find more prominence on the weekends without football getting in the way.
Moving to fantasy basketball, let's look at streaming players from three NBA teams with good matchups on Sunday. Most stats are from NBA.com.
Use FantasySP's weekly and daily projections to find the players expected to perform best and help make your toughest lineup decisions!
Houston Rockets @ Milwaukee Bucks
Milwaukee plays at the 10th-fastest pace, and while they are close to the middle in defensive rating, they are very close to the bottom-10 level we usually look for. Numbers in the middle generally sit closer at this time of year, so the difference between average and the bottom third isn't too far.
Houston has found success early, holding the second-best offensive rating. That's not necessarily a surprise given the presence of guys like Kevin Durant and Alperen Sengun, but when a new core is together, you never know how it will coalesce in the opening weeks.
Guard
Sheppard is the player with upside here, but he is still growing into his NBA groove; he's only a second-year guy, so it's fair to give him more time. He can shoot, though, and is a decent streamer if you're looking for three pointers. Okogie doesn't do anything at a high level, leaving him below a fantasy level in most games.
Forward
Smith is playing over 33 minutes per game, averaging 13.7 points and 5.4 rebounds. Smith does a little of everything but is at a fringe fantasy level; he's a decent streamer with the positive matchup. Eason is just a little lower than Smith in most areas. If you can't get Smith, then Eason is a fine backup plan.
Center
Adams is averaging 9.3 rebounds per game, a good number, but he has modest stats otherwise. That's a good way to think about him moving forward, giving Adams a little low-level value if you need a center.
Minnesota Timberwolves @ Sacramento Kings
The Kings play at the ninth-fastest pace and have the fourth-worst defensive rating. They shook up the roster a bit beginning at last year's trade deadline, and that hasn't led to success yet.
Minnesota has the fifth-best offensive rating, again finding success that helped lead them to deep playoff runs the past few seasons. The Timberwolves won't have their real test until the postseason.
Guard
DiVincenzo is the guy you want here, as he's averaging close to 30 minutes and 14.5 points per game. He also does a little of everything else, making him a good streaming player. DiVincenzo is owned in about half of leagues. Conley is a lower-level player at this point, not a guy you want in your fantasy lineup.
Forward
Both Clark and Shannon are only low-level players who aren't worth fantasy spots unless you're in a super-deep league and/or in complete desperation.
Center
- None
Oklahoma City Thunder @ Memphis Grizzlies
Memphis plays at the fifth-fastest pace, and they have the 10th-worst defensive rating. Things are in flux due to injuries and uncertainty around star Ja Morant, and the Grizzlies have been vulnerable early.
The Thunder are back at the top of the league: they are 9-1, have the best defensive rating in the league, and rank sixth in offensive rating. The regular season truly doesn't matter to OKC; it will be all about the final rounds of the playoffs (even as they deal with injuries).
Guard
Mitchell and Joe have both scored nearly 17 points per game, Mitchell while playing all 10 games and Joe in just five contests. They are both good streaming players who fit well in your lineup with a strong matchup.
Wallace plays nearly 30 minutes per game, but most of his stats are modest. He is averaging 2.6 steals per game, a fantastic number, so that is a plus if you're hurting for defensive stats. Caruso is also a defensive guy, but he's worse statistically; Wallace is the one to grab between the two lower-level players.
Forward
Dort has been dealing with a shoulder injury and is questionable here, so verify his status before you put him in your lineup. Dort plays nearly 32 minutes per game, but he has low stats across the board, making him a low-level streamer who is probably better to skip.
Center
Williams is just a low-level statistical player and not a guy you want on your fantasy team.
